Artists

Elizabeth Babyn

Image Source: http://www.elizabethbabyn.ca/html/ebabynhtml/bio.html

Having grown up on a rural farmstead in Quebec, Elizabeth Babyn loved to draw in her spare time. She derived lots of inspiration from art books, since she was not exposed to art galleries as a young girl growing up, nor did she take art in high school, choosing to study music instead.

After practicing as an RN for many years, Elizabeth enrolled in the Visual Arts program at the Ontario College of Art and Design University, where she obtained a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting in 2005. At the time of her graduation, Elizabeth was creating large non-objective paintings on canvas.

So many artists have inspired and continue to inspire Elizabeth such as Gerhard Richter, Eleanor Bond, Joyce Wieland, Joseph Beuys, Mario Mertz, Ed Pein, Alison Norlen, and Susan Shantz, just to name a few. A couple of courageous artists who deeply affected her early on were Gerhard Richter and Joseph Beuys. Both of these East German artists were unafraid to expose the unspeakable regarding Germany’s role in the Second World War. “Richter and Beuys forced you to look at things that their fellow countrymen did not want to talk about at the time,” says Elizabeth.

Since 2003, Elizabeth has been a member of Loop Gallery in Toronto. Currently, she is working on a show scheduled for early January 2015. Elizabeth’s work has been seen in Ferrara Italy, Propeller Centre for the Visual Arts in Toronto, Spin Gallery in Florida, McMichael Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario, as well as the Williams Mill Visual Arts Centre in Glen Williams, Ontario.

This information was gathered from the following source:
– Elizabeth Babyn, personal communication, July 4, 2014.

Paula Cooley

Photo Credit: Kevin Hogarth Photography

Paula was born and raised in Brantford, Ontario and came to Saskatoon in 1989. In that year, Paula completed a class at the Saskatoon Potters Guild and discovered her passion for ceramics. In 1999, Paula received her Diploma in Ceramics at the SIAST Woodland Campus in Prince Albert. She also received a Bachelor in Fine Arts from the University of Saskatchewan in 2010. In 2011, Paula participated in the Medalta International Artists in Residence in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Paula is best known for her work with clay and ceramics. While attending classes at the
Saskatoon Potters Guild, many of her teachers had a huge influence on her and showed her the various aspects and possibilities when working with clay. Coming from this personal experience, Paula emphasizes that art encourages more diversity within communities, opens up mindsets, and broadens experiences. “It’s really important for people in the community to try the arts and understand the processes involved,” says Paula. “It gives people a greater appreciation for art”.

While Paula mostly works with clay, in the last couple of years, she has started to introduce ceramic works with a non-ceramic component. These non-ceramic components often include metal, wire, and bone.

Paula’s work is regularly featured in Dimensions, the Saskatchewan Craft Council’s Annual art exhibition. Her work can also be seen at Clay Studio Three in Saskatoon on Broadway and Main, Traditions in Regina, Yvette Moore Gallery in Moose Jaw, and the Alberta Craft Council in Edmonton. Paula also teaches at the Saskatoon Potters Guild in the Albert Community Centre and has remained an associate member of the guild.

Jan Corcoran

Jan was born in Kimberley, British Columbia and grew up in Kelowna. She credits her mother and paternal grandmother as being artistic influences throughout her childhood. Jan’s mother was very encouraging and supportive of the arts and passed her artistic interests on to her children.

While attending the University of Victoria, Jan studied psychology, women’s studies, and sociology. She also took courses in clay sculpting, painting and drawing, and mixed media art from several Victoria artists. Jan moved to Saskatoon in 1997 and has been residing in Varsity View since 2000. In 2007, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with Great Distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. In 2009, Jan attended the EMMA Lake Artists Retreat and worked with other artists such as Degen Lindner, Greg Hardy, Alicia Popoff, and George Glenn.

Jan considers herself to be primarily a painter and employs oil acrylics, gold leaf, and copper leaf in her art. Prior to moving to Saskatoon, she integrated clay into her art pieces. She specializes in bringing a West Coast perspective to the Prairie landscape. Through her work, Jan portrays emotions and memories through different colours and shapes.

Jan’s work has been shown in many solo exhibitions in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Her art is in private collections across Canada, the United States, the Bahamas, and Britain. Her work can currently be seen at the Nouveau Gallery in Regina, the Stall Gallery in Saskatoon, as well as in the collections of the Royal Bank of Canada in Calgary, the University of Saskatchewan president’s residence, EnCana Corporation in Calgary, City Center Family Physicians in Saskatoon, and the Snelgrove Gallery in Saskatoon. Jan is a member of CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation) Saskatchewan and the Studio on 20th artists group.

Hans Dommasch

University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Photograph Collection, A-11238. Head and Shoulders of Professor Emeritus in the Department of Art and Art History Hans Dommasch, 2002.

Hans Dommasch was born in Tilsit, Germany on August 25th, 1926. He emigrated to Canada in 1954. With the need to learn English and a skill for employment, Hans enrolled in a photography course. In 1955, he began working as an assistant photographer at the University of Saskatchewan. In 1959, he graduated from the New York Institute of Photography.

When he returned to Canada, Hans again worked for the University of Saskatchewan first as Head of the Photographic Services for the College of Medicine (1963), and then as a professor. In 1963, Hans was an associate of the Royal Photographic Society. In 1965, he was a Fellow of the Biological Photographic Association.

Among many other awards, Hans was given the highest Canadian award for contributions to photography in 1974 when he was presented the William V. Gordon Award. In 1975, Hans established the University of Saskatchewan’s first photography program. He was Head of the Department of Art and Art History from 1984 until 1993. From 1988 until 1989, Hans was the Visual Arts Chairman for the Saskatchewan Arts Board.

Hans’ photography directly reflects his interest in Canadian landscapes. In 1986, he published the book Prairie Giants, which showcased his photography of grain elevators. For his series entitled “Canada North of 60,” Hans made many trips to the Canadian Arctic. The series showcases people, flora, landscape, and wildlife of the North. Hans has also photographed areas of Saskatoon, particularly high rises and parking lots from high vantage points.

Hans formerly resided at 1207 Elliott Street.

This information was gathered from the following sources:
– City of Saskatoon (2014). Varsity View Local Area Plan Final Report.
– Saskatchewan Network for Art Collecting (n.d.). Saskatchewan Artist: Hans Dommasch.
Retrieved from http://www.sknac.ca/index.php?page=ArtistDetail&id=124

Lindsay Embree

Personal Photo.

Lindsay Embree was born in 1956 in Goodsoil, Saskatchewan. She grew up in Chetwynd, British Columbia. In 1976, Lindsay began her studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. In 1977 Lindsay was one of the few individuals to be accepted into the closed Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Queen’s University. While there, Lindsay also took classes in drawing, painting, colour theory, sculpture, photography, art history, and Classics and Ancient History. In 1981, she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Queen’s University. In 1988, Lindsay received a Masters of Fine Arts with a major in Printmaking from the University of Saskatchewan.

Lindsay has also led workshops across Canada that focus on teaching printmaking, bookbinding and fabric dying. In 1998, Lindsay received her first invitation to the EMMA
International Collaboration, a biennial event where one hundred artists from around the world are invited to work collaboratively in the creation of art. An exhibition of work by EMMA participants is held at The Affinity Gallery on Broadway Avenue during the EMMA International Collaboration. For Lindsay, collaborating with and working alongside other artists is a constant source of inspiration. Lindsay joined the EMMA Organizing Committee in 2013.

While studying for her Masters of Fine Art degree, Lindsay took a “Primitive and Folk Art” class which hugely influenced her artistic career. The class content focused on handcrafted objects that people use on a daily basis. Items such as drinking vessels, butter dishes, paintings, tapestries and carpets were viewed as more than just utilitarian objects. They were seen as art forms. As a result Lindsay decided to include art, in all its forms, in her everyday life, from paintings on the wall to the carpets on the floor. It is also at this time that Lindsay moved away from Abstraction and started creating art that reflected her personal interests; familial relationships, history and the subjects found in Australian Aboriginal Art began to appear in her work. “I was able to discover and explore my personal history,” says Lindsay. Another influential force in her work is Ontario artist, Otis Tamasauskas who has been teaching printmaking at Queen’s University since 1980. “He is one of the best printmakers in Canada, and even North America,” says Lindsay. Carl Heywood, a former printmaking professor at Queen’s University, has also had a huge influence on Lindsay’s artistic career.

Lindsay is perhaps best known for printmaking, most notably lithography. However, she has recently incorporated different materials into her artwork. In 1997, she took a silk screening course at Red Deer College. From this class, Lindsay learned how to apply silk screening techniques to textiles. During this time, Lindsay was also introduced to the “VIE Colour System”, which is a water-based, concentrated screen-printing pigment and transparent base specifically used for printing textiles.

Lindsay is also a Costume Assistant and has worked for Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan for 21 seasons. As a result of her involvement with Saskatchewan’s theatre and craft community, Lindsay has also developed fibre art pieces. Throughout her artwork, Lindsay focuses on history, interpersonal relationships, cultures, family, and words. Lindsay was also one of the primary organizers of the first Saskatchewan Wearable Art Gala (SWAG) in 2013. SWAG occurs every two years in the fall.

Lindsay has been showcasing her work since 1979. Her work can be seen at the Saskatchewan Craft Council (if in exhibition). Lindsay also has pieces at the Handwave Gallery in Meacham, Saskatchewan. Lindsay’s work has been showcased in national juries as well as juries in the United States, Bulgaria, Spain, and The Netherlands. In 2009, Lindsay participated in the Florence Biennale in Florence, Italy.

Iris Hauser

Image Source: University of Saskatchewan Certificate of Art and Design (n.d.). Instructor bios. Retrieved from https://ccde.usask.ca/uscad/instructors

Iris Hauser was born in Cranbrook in 1956 and grew up in Victoria, British Columbia. Growing up, Iris’ parents showed deep respect for the arts, which they then passed onto their children. As a child, Iris was also very influenced by her father, who was an artist himself. Her father was an amateur painter, avid guitarist, and admirer of nature.

Iris studied in Victoria in 1973 to 1974 before attending the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design in Nova Scotia. From 1977 to 1979, Iris studied Art and Art History at the University of Saskatchewan. She then moved to Kassel, Germany to study independently for a year before moving back to Saskatoon.

Iris is perhaps best known as an oil painter. She especially enjoys the responsiveness of oils as well as the richness and blending of colours. Iris also uses acrylics, charcoals, and chalk pastels. Throughout most of her work, Iris focuses on people and the human collective experience. Iris paints large portraits that focus on incorporating symbolic and iconic imagery of the human condition.

For the past sixteen years, Iris has been an instructor at the University of Saskatchewan Certificate of Art and Design, which runs out of the Williams Building at 221 Cumberland Avenue North. Iris teaches courses on oil and acrylic painting techniques. Her work can be seen at the Mendel Art Gallery, Kenderdine Art Gallery, Saskatchewan Arts Board, the Canada Council Art Bank in Ottawa, and the Stall Gallery in Saskatoon. In September 2015, Iris’ work will be featured at The Mann Gallery in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan and The Art Gallery of Regina in Regina, Saskatchewan. Iris has also been very involved in the Saskatchewan arts community. Through the CARFAC (Canadian Artists’ Representation) mentorship program, Iris has been a mentor to emerging artists. Iris has also served on the board of CARFAC Saskatchewan and served as juror for the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils.

Emrys Jones

University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections (2002). Emrys Jones: Biography. Retrieved from http://scaa.usask.ca/gallery/northern/jones/en_bio.html

Emrys Maldwyn Jones was born on September 14, 1905 in Dowlais, Wales. In 1931, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta. From 1931 until 1939, Emrys taught in Edmonton. In 1939, he returned to the University of Alberta, being both a drama teacher and graduate student. Emrys obtained a Master of Arts in 1943 and for the next two years, he studied at Cornell and Columbia Universities on a Rockefeller Scholarship.

In 1945, Emrys joined the University of Saskatchewan as a professor and Head of the Department of Drama. Emrys was the first full professor of drama to be appointed at a Commonwealth university. In 1956, Emrys founded the Canadian Theatre Centre. In 1971, Emrys was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London) and named Professor Emeritus of Drama in 1973. Over his career, Emrys educated many students and directed dozens of plays. The Emrys Jones Studio Theater at the University of Saskatchewan is named in his honour.

Miranda Jones

Miranda Jones was born in 1955 in Waikerie, South Australia. She began her artistic career while living in Portugal as a Rotary exchange student in 1973 where she spent many long hours in museums and galleries. This experience helped Miranda to understand that the history of art is the history of human culture. After her exchange, she returned to Australia where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Flinders University in Adelaide followed by an honours year in Melbourne.

Miranda moved to St. John’s Newfoundland in 1980 where she worked for the Newfoundland and Labrador Crafts Development Association for three and a half years as a marketing coordinator and editor. She simultaneously continued her art studies through Memorial University community art classes and was an active member of the St. Michael’s Print Shop cooperative where she honed her printmaking skills. While in Newfoundland, Miranda decided to become a full time artist. She moved to Saskatoon in 1985 and completed her Masters in Fine Arts at the University of Saskatchewan. Miranda considers herself to be a mixed multi-media artist, having worked on paper and canvas in various media, including oil, acrylic and gold leaf, and in metal, fabric, and wood.

One of Miranda’s passions is to teach empowerment, especially to women. “There is a sense that only men can do things like welding, blacksmithing, soldering and fabricating,” she says. “I enjoy seeing my students take new risks and face challenges with a sense of fun and adventure”. Art is one avenue through which Miranda teaches empowerment. For the past three years, she has taught workshops at the University of Saskatchewan Arts and Design Certificate program (USCAD),which operates out of the Williams Building at 221 Cumberland Avenue North. Over the years, Miranda’s work has been seen in many public and private collections and was showcased at the Susan Whitney Gallery, the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina, the Darrell Bell Gallery in Saskatoon, and TU Gallery in Edmonton. She currently shows her work at the Nouveau Gallery in Regina and out of her Studio on 20th street.

Miranda has frequently engaged in large community based projects throughout her career. She has been the recipient of a number of project grants, including Arts Smarts (administered through the Saskatchewan Arts Board), and City of Saskatoon creative grants. She has worked with at-risk youth from the White Buffalo Youth Lodge and with deaf children in Regina and with many school groups to undertake a wide variety of projects. These include the creation of canvas floor mats at the Riverside Hutterite Colony, painting an entire hockey rink at Holliston Elementary School and teaching metalwork skills to design a 12 x8 ft. aluminum sculpture with the senior students at the Saskatoon Christian School located near Lakeview.

For the Saskatchewan Legislature Building’s centennial celebration in 2005, Miranda created a permanent installation piece entitled “In Good Hands.” For this project, Miranda worked again with the after school care participants at White Buffalo Youth Lodge. For inspiration, she used stories and pictures of the Legislative Building under construction 100 years ago. Framing the art piece are metal outlines of the hands of various people, including those who have inspired Miranda throughout her yoga teaching and artistic career.

Miranda is part of the group called the Studio on 20th. In the near future, the group is hoping to host various types of art shows.

Miranda currently lives in the Varsity View neighbourhood where she teaches regular yoga classes at Brunskill School.

Scott Triffo

Scott Triffo was raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. Growing up, Scott was continually surrounded by music and musical figures such as Colin James. “I hung out with Colin quite a lot and he would give me music lessons,” says Scott. Scott has been influenced by Jazz, Rock, Fusion, Classical, Pop, and various blues players.

Scott went to music school in Vancouver and took contemporary and jazz music. It was during this time where Scott gained knowledge and experience of the music industry. After attending school in Vancouver, Scott taught music for 15 years in Vancouver, Toronto, and Saskatoon. In Saskatoon, he taught at Darren’s Music Place.

Scott is also a well-known composer. He got his start in composing music when he worked with playwright Mansel Robinson for a fringe festival. Scott often composes music for television series. He is a member of Partners in Motion, a company owned by his brother that distributes media programming in more than 150 countries around the world and in more than 30 languages. Scott has composed music for programs on the History Channel, Discovery US, A & E US, and SCN, just to name a few. Scott is currently working on music for the documentary “Sticks and Stones: Curling’s Quest for Olympic Glory,” which outlines how curling became an Olympic sport. Scott is also working on music for the ninth season of the Discovery US television series “Blood Lies and Alibis,” a series that follows criminal investigators.

Scott is the guitarist for the band called “Too Darn Hot”. Scott’s band members are lead vocalist Wilma Groenen and storyteller Bonnie Logan. The band plays music filled with tones from the ‘20s and ‘30s and stories that range from awkward first dates to the joys and hardships of relationships. The band is available to play at socials, house parties, fundraisers, as well as staff parties. If you would like to book the band for an event, please call 1-306-380-6997 or email info@toodarnhot.ca.

Trent Watts

Trent grew up on a farm near the Alberta/Saskatchewan border. As a child, Trent was very influenced by his surroundings, including nature, birds, and wood. Fixing fences in the farmyard and other functional activities allowed Trent to gain early experience in woodworking. These early experiences, as well as his life’s work of being a veterinarian have greatly influenced his work, as seen through his creations of many art pieces relating to animals.

Trent is best known for his woodworking creations, but also creates both functional and sculptural work. He incorporates locally sourced wood into many of his art pieces as well as painting and decorating techniques.

Trent has been influenced and continues to be influenced by several artists, including Miranda Jones and Michael Hosaluk. The EMMA International Collaboration has also heavily influenced Trent’s work. In 2006, 2008, and 2010, Trent was the lead organizer of the EMMA International Collaboration. “If it had not been for EMMA, I would not have met the multitude of artists that I know today,” says Trent. He has also been very influenced by the instructors who taught the woodworking classes he attended. Trent has taken classes from Wood-n-Works as well as the EMMA International Collaboration.

In the past, Trent has taught woodworking out of his shop for the Saskatchewan Woodworkers’ Guild. Trent currently teaches woodworking through Lee Valley on 51st Street East. “I feel a real delight in sharing the knowledge I’ve gained,” says Trent. “It’s a great opportunity for me to give back to other people.”

In 2013, Trent won the Jane Tumball Evans Award for Innovation in Craft. Some of Trent’s creations can be seen at the Mendel Art Gallery, the Saskatchewan Arts Board, in a permanent collection at the North Battleford Chapel Gallery, and online.